Muzzle support for automatic guns



C. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1922.

Patentd Oc t.3,1922.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT roe AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21' 1922-,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

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C.-SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED r53. 21, 1922. 4

1,431,05 I Patented Oct. 3,1922.

5 SHEETS SHEET 3.

C SUTTER. I MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS. m'ucAilou mcu ms. 21,1922. 1,431,058. Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

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I f/zaf'lar jail?! c. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATIQN FILED FEB. 27. 1922. I 1,431,058. Patented Oct. 3; 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922..

.QUJNETEEE stares CHARLES .SUTTER, OF SURESNES, FRANCE.

. nuzztn-surronrr ron AUTOMATIC eons.

Application filed F bruar 27; 1922. 7 Serial 110,533,516,

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHnnLEs SUTTER, aciez'n of the French Republic,residing at Suresnes, Seine, France,"have invented 'certain new. anduseful Improvements in Muzzle. Supports for Automatic Guns; and 1' dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and ,eract.description oft-he invention, such as'will enable others skilled in theart to which it'appertains to make and use the same. i

My invention relates to improvements in muzzle supporting attachmentsfor automatic guns. I y Such guns are moreor less heavy and while theybe fired, when emergency requires, from the shoulder with the soldierstanding erect, it is generally preferable, wheneyer practicable, tofire lying down, at 'which'time'not only is the greater-proportion' ofthe weight of the piece taken on the muzzle support, but the soldiermayaim better and more continuously, and he also presents a much smallerand less conspicuous target to the enemy.

Such supports have hitherto generally been provided with pointed legswhich, when the ground is soi't'or muddy, tend to stick into the groundand disturb the line of sight, and also in a large measure prevent thegun from recoiling in the line of fire. My'present inventionisfintende'd to pro- .vide a light and efficient supportingarrangementwhich may be quickly attached to or removed fromthe piece,and in whichthe supporting legs are provided with light rounded shoeshaving considerable bearing surface which will notonly support the pieceon soft ground, but will also permit the recoil ot' the piecein the lineoli'fir'e.

My v present invention is also especially intended to'cover certainfeatures ShO\V11,b1lt not claimed, in my pending application entitledImprorements in automatic machine guns, filed .Marclij25, 1921, Ser. No,455701,

andalso to cover certain improvements on the structure shown in theapplication aforesaid.

My ini'ention'will'be more fully underr stood after reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which like parts'are indicated by similarreference symbols throughout the sereral views, and inwhich -Figure 1shows ajsideelevation of the gun in use by the soldier, the latter beingshown in the recumbent position, and being I indicated in 'dottedlines.

Figure2 is a front elevation of a larger scale of the supportingattachment shown in Fig. 1, the gun itsel'f'being shownin dotted lines.y i Figure 3 is a plan View of a portion of the gun barrel withthesupporting attachment in the'operative position, the parts beingshown on a'somewhat smaller scale than in Fig. 2, but on a larger scalethan in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, but with thesupporting legs and shoes swung up alongside the barrel and showing indotted lines the position for transporting'same with 'thefigun. v

Figure'5 is a detail showing thefupper portion of the supportingattachment d e.- tached from the gun, the supporting legs beingindicated in dotted lines, v Figure 6 a. View of the parts shown in Fig.5 as seen from the left ofsaid figure, the gun barrel being indicated indotted l s Q I 'Figure is asimilary'iew to Fig. 6,'but shows the righthand headpiece and corresponding leg removed, and s'alid figure showsthe socketpiecein engagement with the trunnions. V

Figure S- shows asection along the line 8- 8 ofFigQ-G, and looking inthe direction of the arrows, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 9' shows a'section along the line 99 of Fig. 6, and looking inthe direction of the arrows. i

Figure 10 is a detail showingthe trunnion band detached from the gun.

Figure ll'is an end View of the trunnion band'as seenfrorn the'left ofFig. 10.

Figure 12' is a side eleyation of the head piece for the left-hand leg.I

Figure 13 is aview of the piece shown in Fig. 12 as seen from the leftof said figure. Figure lt is an end view of the socket piece which ispivoted to the head piece and engages the trunnion. Figure 15 shows a'sectlon along the line '15 15ot Fi 14, and looking in. the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 16 isa front elevation of a modified form of supportingattachment, the gun being indicated in dotted lines.

" Figure 17 is a iew of the device shown are partly cylindrical, as at,d, and termiin Fig. 16, as seen from the left of'said fig- I ure andFigure 18 shows a section along the line 18-18 ofFigure 17' and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

A represents the gun provided with the usual barrel B, with any suitableremovable front sight C. Mounted on this barrel, near the muzzlethereof, '-is a. trunnion band'D which :may be lockedin the desiredposition on the barrel by means of the pin E (see Fig. .3) mounted inthegrooves (Z' and en gaging in a similar groove in .the side of thebarrel. -This trunnion band is provided with two oppositely disposedarms, which nate ininclined. locking lugs or toggles (P. The ends d ofthese toggles project beyond the Cylindrical surface at, of the trunnionmember, and the distance between the parallel sides d of said toggles'isless than the diameter of the trunnions, as shown most clearly inFigs.10 and 11 Thistrunnion band, it will be noted, is

detach'ably mounted onthe gun, and by re moving the .pin E the saidtrunnion band and the parts carried thereby may be removed'at a singleoperation. Such removal, however, would necessitate the removal of thefront sight C. I

Revolubly mounted on thetrunnions cl aretwo connecting pieces F and F,which ieces, to which they I Thus the socket piece F, shown in Figs. 5,6,

8, Hand 15,- is provided with the transverse bore f adapted to turnfreely on the corresponding trunnion tZQ and this bore f is providedwith wings f adapted to pass freely over the ends (Z of the toggle d sothat the parts may be conveniently assembled. I This socket piece isprovided with two lugs f between which the web h 'of the head piece Hengages. These lugs f 'are erforated, as at 7, to receive the hinge boltsee Figs. 5 and 9. .The head piece H is provided with a downwardlyprojecting socket 72. adapted to receive the corresponding leg I, and ispro vided with perforations it" to receive fastening pins or boltsJwhereby the leg issecured 'or fastened to the head piece.

Each head piece is provided with the web k adapted to pass between thecorresponding lugs f of the adjoining socket piece, and this web isperforated, as at h to permit the passage therethrough of the pivot G.Below this perforation h is a rounded socket h to engage the ends of thelugs f of the socket piece F. The upper portion of I the head piece isprovided with a flat abuttingsurface ill adapted to bear against theouter face of the corresponding socket piece when the parts-areassembled, and this portion of the head piece is also provided with asocket h into which the'toggle d of the trunnion projects. This togglefits loosely in the socket h so as to permit the requisite change inelevation of thegun. lVhen thetrunnion band, the'two socket. pieces andthetwo head pieces. are in the assembled relation, the

parts are as shown inFigs. 5. to 9.

The legs I may be made of light material of suflicient strength, such asvanadium steel,

or aluminum steel alloy, and to one-of these.

legs,as I. the brace K is pivoted as at k, I

and the free end offthe brace is provided with a hookls" adapted toengage a pin L provided on'the other leg I A s'econd pin L is alsoprovided on the leg I to engage the hook kwvhen the two legs are broughtup alongside thebarrel, as will be hereinafter described. j

Each leg is provided with a shoe M connected to'the corresponding legbya socket piece'N or N. .These socket pieces N and N are rightsand lefts,but the shoes M are 7 substantially the same construction, and each shoeis preferably in the form of an arc'uate plate, as shown in Figs. 1,2and 3; said plate having a substantially cylindrical lower'face m and arib m, which rib serves not only'to engage in soft ground, but also.serves to stiffen the shoe and prevent'th'e same from bending orbecoming injured in use. The

dinally, buttends to limit lateral vibration of the piece when beingfired- Owing to the width of'the shoes,.the legs do not sinkunequallyinto the ground, although the latter may be quite soft, as theusual pointed ends of such muzzle supports do; the stability thereforeis much greater and traversing is very easy.

-. rib also ,pe'rmitsthe gunto recoil longitu- 1 It will'be noted thatthe shoes slip paral- 'lel to the vertical plane through the gun barrel,owing to the slipping of the shoes on the ground instead of vibratingduring fire, as

with otherfmachine' guns@ The machine rifle' herein described recoils[parallel to the ground whenused with the muzzle rest, and

returns to the initial position withoutdisturbing the aim. Thus'easyholding, good stability on any ground and accuracyof fire are secured. Ii I In assembling the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 15 inclusive, .thetrunnion band D is slipped over the gun barrel B before the front'sightC is put on, and this trunnion band is held in place by the movablelocking pin E, thenthe two socketpieces F and F are mounted on thecorresponding trunnions, -which may be readily done by turning thesocket pieces so that the wings f of the perbarrel.

foration 7 will register with the corresponding toggle 03 when thesocket pieces may be slipped over. said toggles and then turned to theengaging position, as shown in Fig. 7.

Now the webs h of the corresponding legs are slipped into place betweenthe lugs f of the corresponding socket pieces, and the bolts J areinserted. The result will be that the head pieces will be hingedlyconnected to the trunnions and yet will be free to rotate thereonthrough the inter-position of the socket piece.

pieces and the brace K is normally attached to one of the legs, and whenthe parts are all assembled the legs may be spread apart by the brace,as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the bearing faces 71.

of the head pieces H and H will bear against the corresponding faces ofthe socket pieces F and F, and the toggles will freely enter the sockets72, in said head the trunnion band fast on the gun. If it is desired toremove the trunnion band, ush out the fastening bolt E, take off theront sight C and Sllp the trunnion band clear of the barrel.

The trunnion band may be left permanently on the barrel" if desired, andthe other parts separately stored away, or all of the parts may becarried with the piece if desired; and this is conveniently done byswinging up the two legs to the rear alongside of. the barrel to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, then passing the bracethrough the space between the barrel and the hand uard P to engage thehook is over the pin 1 of the opposite leg. The two legs with the shoesattached will then be held substantially parallel with the If desired totake off the shoes, this maybe doneby removing the fastening bolts 0which connect the'legs to the corresponding socket pieces carried by theshoes and preventthe shoes from-being lost.

Each shoe should be preferably permanently attached to the legs, exceptwhen it is desired to remove same for purposes of repair or the like.

In the modification shown in Figs. 16 to 18, the trunnion band D isprovided with two trunnions cl exteriorly screwthreaded to engageinternal screw threads on the sleeves Q, which sleeves'have down- Thelegs andshoes are normally attached to the head wardly projecting lugsgbetween which the web it of the corresponding head pieces projects.These head pieces are made rights and lefts as shown at H and H and itwill be sufiicient to describe one only. 6

Each head piece is provided with a socket to receive the correspondingtubular leg, and the leg is fastened to the corresponding head piece bymeans of one or more suitable bolts or pinsJ. l

. The web of the head piece is hinged to the corresponding"sleeve bymeans of the pins G and the top of each head piece is preferablyprovided with an engaging face h to engage a corresponding face on'thesleeve and to prevent the leg from becoming unduly spread apart, theconstruction being shown in Fig. 18.

- -The legs are further braced by means of the brace K, hinged to oneleg as at and connected to the other leg by means. of a hook 70 engagingthe pin L With this form of device the legs may be independently removedby simply unscrewing the corresponding sleeve with the leg attached fromits trunnion band, and reapplied in the same way. i

Then carried with the gum-the legsmay be swung substantially parallel tothe axis of the bore and fastened to the gun, as hereinafter described,or in any other convenient way.

In the construction shown in Figs. 16 to 18, I- have shown the trunnionband D as provided with the downwardly project ing portion D having thegas passage d connected to the gas passage Z) from the barrel, the gasbeing conveyed to the motor piston cylinder R in the usual way.

With this construction it is possible to combine the trunnion band withthe band provided for the gas passages referred to, thus resulting in asimplification of.the parts.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in theherein described construction, and in the combination and arrangement ofparts which may be used without departingfrom the spirit of myinvention; and I do not mean to limit the invention to such detailsexcept as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire'to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is: I

1. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprisingaband secured to the barrel and provided withoppositely disposedtrunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, andcurved shoes mounted on the free'ends of said legs,"substantia'lly asdescribed. 2. A muzzle support for guns of the character described,comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided withoppositelydisposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to saidtrunn1ons,a brace hinged to one leg, with means for detachablyconnecting said brace to the other leg, and curved shoes mounted on thefree ends of said legs, substantially as described.

3. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising aband secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposedtrunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, andshoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips mounted on the free ends ofsaid legs, substantially as described.

4. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising aband secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposedtrunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, a bracehinged to one leg with means for detachably conmeeting said brace to theother leg,.and shoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips mounted onthe free ends of said legs, substantially asdescribed.

5. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising aband secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposedtrunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, andshoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips, each I provided with acircumferential rib on the outer face thereof, mounted on the free endsof said legs, substantially as described.

6. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising aband secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposedtrunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions,abrace'hinged to one leg with means for detachably con-- necting saidbrace to the other leg, and shoes formed'of arcuate metal bearingstrips, each provided with a circumferential rib on the outer facethereof, mounted on the free ends of said legs,'substantially asdescribed.

7. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, ofa trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum than said trunnions, a perforatedsocket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforationadapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided withwings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the correspondingtoggle, and. a leg havin ahead piece hinged to said socket piece,substantially as described.

8. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, ofa'trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, aperforated socket piece, in the form of a collar,g.provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforationbeingprovided scribed.

9. In a muzzle support for guns the, combination with the gun barrel, ofa trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded'trunnions anddiagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the. ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions,aperforated socket piece, in the form-of a collar, provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation beingprovided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the.corresponidng toggle, anda leg having ahead piece-hinged to said socketpiece, with a shoe in the form of an arcuate plate provided with alongitudinal rib attached to the lower end of said leg, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, ofa trunnion band secured thereto= and provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-dis osed toggles projectin beyond the ends 0 said trunnions,and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, a perforatedsocket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforationadapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided withwings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the correspondingtoggle, and said socket piece being also provided with a downwardlyprojecting portion, and a leg having a head piece hinged to thedownwardly projecting portion of said socket piece, with means forlimiting the outward swing of said leg, with a'shoe in the form of anarcuate plate provided with a longitudinal rib attached to the lower endof said leg, substantially as described.

11. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, ofa trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-disposed togglesprojecting beyond the ends of said trunnions,and of a greater maximum diameter than saidtrunnions, a perforatedsocket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforationadapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided withwings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the correspondingtoggle, and a leg having a head piece hinged to-the lower portion ofsaid socket piece, said head piece having an upwardly extending bearingface adapted toengage the upper portion ofsaid socket piece, andto limitthe outward swing of the lower end. of said'fleg,

I substantia'lly'as described. V

1 2. 'Ina muzzle support for guns the combination-withthe gun barrel,offla trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunriionsand diagonally-disposed,

toggles'projecting beyond the ends ofsaid trunnions', and of agreater-maximum diam= eter than said .trunmons, a perforated socketpiece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted tofit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adaptedto permit the passage therethrough of the corresponding toggle, and aleg hav ing a headpiece hinged to the lower portion offsaid socketpiece, said head piece having an upwardly extending bearing face adaptedto Iengjage th'e' upper portion of'said socket piece, a nd"to limitthe-outward swing of the lower-end of said-leg, and the upwardlyextending portionof-said' head piece being the corresponding socketprovided with a recess to receive the projectingi end of thecorrespondingtoggle, substantially as described, p t '13. In a muzzlesupport for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnionband. secured theretofand provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-disposed toggles,projecting beyond the endsof saidtrunnions,'and of agreater maximum diam eter than said trunnions,perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation beingprovided with wings adapted topermit the passage therethrough of saidtoggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardlyprojecting portions, and legs having head pieces hinged to thedownwardly projecting portions of said socket pieces, said head piecesbeing each provided with an upwardly extending bearing face adapted toengage piece and to limit the outward swing of the lower end of thecorresponding leg, substantially as described.

14. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, ofa trunnion and secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions anddiagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions,perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation beingprovided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of saidtoggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardlyprojecting portions, and legs having head pieces hinged to thedownwardly projectin portions of said socket pieces, said head piecesbeing each provided with an up- Wardly extending bearing face adapted totially as described.

engage the corresponding socket piece'and to limit the outward swing ofthe lower end of the corresponding leg, with shoes in the form ofarcuate plates provided with longitudinal ribs attached to the lower endof saidalegs, substantially as described.

- 15. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel,of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnionsand diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions,perforated socket piecesyeach in the form of a collar, provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforationbeing-provided with wings'adapted to permit the passage therethrough 'ofsaid toggles, and said socket pieces being-also pro ided with downwardlyprojecting portions, legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardlyprojecting por tions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being eachprovided with an upwardly eX- tendingbearing face adapted: to engage thecorresponding socket piece and .to' limit the outward v correspondingleg, on'eof said legs being provided with a pair of projecting pinsspaced apart, and a bracehinged to the op-' positeleg and having'a-hooknear its free end adapted toeng'age'one or the other or said pins, asdesired, substantially asde scribed. I

16. In a muzzle support for guns-the combination with the gun'barrel,ofa trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnionsand diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of saidtrunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said 'trunnions,perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with aperforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation beingprovided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of saidtoggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardlyprojecting portions, legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardlyprojecting portions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being eachprovided with an upwardly extending bearing face adapted to engage thecorresponding socket piece and to limit the outward swing of the lowerend of the corresponding leg, with shoes in the form of arcuate platesprovided with longitudinal ribs attached to the lower end of said legs,one ofsaid legs being provided with a pair of projecting pins spacedapart, and a brace hinged to the opposite leg and having a hook near itsfree end adapted to engage one or the other of said pins, as desired,substan- 17. In a muzzle support for guns the coin. bination with thegun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with swingof the lower end of the trunnions,

, trunnlons, and

rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond theends of said of a greater maximum disaid trunnions, perforatameter thaned socket pieces, each in the form of a:

collar, provided-with a perforation'adapted to fit said trunnions, saidperforation. being provided with vwings adapted toipermit the passagetherethrough of said toggles, and legs having head pieces hinged to saidsocket ieces, one of said legs being provided wit a pair of projectingpins spaced apart,

,eter than said trunnions, perforated socket pieces, eachin the form ofa collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said i saidperforation being provided with wings ing head p ieces hinged to saidsocket pieces, one of said legs being provided with a pair of projectingpins-spaced apart, and a brace :hinged to the opposite leg and having ahook adapted to permit the passage. therethrou h of said toggles, andlegs hav near its free end adapted to engage one or the other of saidpins, asdesired, with shoes in the form of arcuate plates provided with;longitudinal I of said legs, substantially as described;

19. A muzzle supportfor guns of the character described, comprising aband secured;

to thebarrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supportinglegs hingedly:

and revolubly. connected to ,said trunnions, a brace hlnged to one legand provided-with a hook near itsgfreeend, and pins secured to the otherleg and spaced apartand adapt ed to engage said hook, respectively,when] the legs are, spaced apart and whenv swung alongside the barrel,substantially asdeQ scribed.

20. A muzzlesupport for guns of the char. acter described, comprising ato the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions,supporting legslhingedly.

ribs attached to the lower end a .50 band secured.

and revolubly connected to said trunnions,

a brace hinged to one .leg and provided with.

a hook near. its free jend, and pins secured;

to the other leg and spaced apart and adapted to engagesa'idhook,'respectively, when, the legsare spaced apart and when s'wung"alongside the barrel, with' 'shoes formed "of; arcuate metal bearingstrips mo'unted] 1on1 the' free ends of said legs-substantially as ndescribed. v v v I i CHARLES a;

